Category Archives: Solidarity

Picket Lines Are Going Up At The Port Of Oakland and the Airport!

19 November 2012

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SEIU 1021 Port Workers are Going on Strike against Unfair Labor Practices engaged in by the Port of Oakland. The Port of Oakland has a $37 million surplus, yet refuses to give workers the proper information that they are required to by law. This is one of the richest Port’s in Oakland, the Federal Government has invested in the expansion of the Port to create good jobs in Oakland

SEIU was there at the General Strike on November 2nd, 2011. SEIU members walked with Occupy Oakland as we shut down the Port on December 12, 2011. Now they have asked for Occupy Oakland’s help!

COMMUNITY PICKET SHUTTLES COURTESY OF THE SEIU WILL BE LEAVING THE WEST OAKLAND BART STARTING AT 5:00 AM !!

From the SEIU LOCAL 1021 site:

TUESDAY:

— Shuttles will pick people up from West Oakland BART station from 5 AM to 8AM, 12 NOON and again from 4 PM to 6 PM.
— Buses will be picking up from the Union Hall at 100 OAK St. throughout the day.
— Shuttles will return people to West Oakland BART from 7-8 PM. and now the Port is refusing to Bargain.

Stop Unfair Labor Practices at the Port!
Support SEIU 1021 strike!

SEIU is asking for your support!
Please come out on Tuesday, November 21 at the Port of Oakland:
9 AM: SSA Terminal 1717 Middle Harbor, Berth 57-59
12 Noon: Terminal 1 Oakland Airport
5 PM: SSA Terminal 1717 Middle Harbor, Berth 57-59

And The Children Shall Lead Them.

12 November 2012

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Five hundred people gathered in downtown Oakland on Saturday to protest police brutality, racial profiling and stop & frisk; the picture-perfect day contrasting sharply with the grim tales of police abuse told by the families of victims.

It was both a sad and hopeful day. Sad for the obvious reasons yet hopeful because of the coalition we are building and the messages we are sending:

“This slaughter must end!”
“We are not going away!”

The sons and daughters of the parents who fear the most for their soon-to-be-grown sons and daughters took a special role in our march through West Oakland after the rally.

Click here to read the entire essay, including more photographs and video of the rally.

End Racial Profiling. End Stop & Frisk. The Movement is Building, The Moment is Now.

9 November 2012

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By JP Massar

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Alan Blueford of Oakland, CA, age 18, was shot and killed after being stopped for being, young, Black, male and “acting suspiciously.” His last words were “I didn’t do anything.”

Manual Diaz of Anaheim, CA, age 25, was shot in the back and killed as he ran away after officers decided to check him out because he was standing next to a car, talking to other young, Hispanic men inside it.

Derrick Gaines, age 15, was shot and killed in South San Francisco after officers stopped him and his friends for “acting suspiciously.”

Ramarley Graham, age 18, was shot and killed in his own bathroom after being chased there by a New York City police officer over a bit of marijuana.

There are far too many more.

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Each case makes headlines. Each time the police announce that the officer thought that the deceased had a weapon. Usually no charges are brought, and in the cases when they are filed police officers are almost always acquitted — rarely if ever is an officer of the law convicted of murder for the execution of a young man of color — even if he was unarmed and shot from behind.

Eventually the case fades from memory, to be replaced by the next. As the cycle begins anew.

It’s way past time for this to end.

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The Justice 4 Alan Blueford Coalition is attempting change this dynamic. On November 10th, 2012, in downtown Oakland, we will be staging a rally and march Against Police Brutality, to End Racial Profiling, and in Opposition to Stop & Frisk Policies which aid and abet such.

We have invited the families of the victims of police murders from around the Bay Area and Northern California, some going back as much as twenty years, to speak. We have reached out to local organized labor and have gotten endorsements for this action by local ILWU and SEIU chapters; their representatives will be speaking. Kristian Williams, author of Our Enemies in Blue: Police and Power in America will also be lending his voice to ours.

Click here to read the entire essay, including our open letter to Judge Thelton Henderson about his decision on whether or not to put the Oakland Police into Federal Receivership in relation to their racist policies and behaviors.

A Year Ago Today Scott Olsen Fell and A Reign of Terror Began.

25 October 2012

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by JP Massar

One year ago to the day, in the wee hours of the morning of October 25th, 2011, armed thugs invaded the newly-named Oscar Grant Plaza in downtown Oakland. Bringing with them tear gas, batons and military style arms, they gassed, beat, dragged and kidnapped people who were doing nothing more or less threatening than sleeping in tents or sitting in the plaza keeping vigil. As one Occupier caught up in the gotterdammerung, Allie123, wrote

At around 4:30 AM the police came from everywhere… A line of police in full riot gear with huge guns pointed their weapons at us… the police tear gassed us… I heard huge explosions… I was the first person taken.

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The intent of this action was clear: to strike enough fear into the hearts and minds of the Occupiers that they would vanish into the mist, departing to points unknown, never to bother the good burghers of Oakland again. This was the first attempt at mass violence used by the state against Occupiers. True, there had been kettling and mass arrests in New York, and a few police pepper-spraying a few protesters apparently at random. But there had been as yet no concerted, centrally directed attempt to eradicate by both physical and psychological violence an Occupy site and by projection an entire local movement.

But it didn’t work.

Click and read the entire essay here.

Support Leah-Lynne Plante & all Grand Jury Resistors!

13 September 2012

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Rally Against FBl Repression
Friday September 14th @ 4:30pm 
Ron Dellums Federal Building in Oakland 
1301 Clay Street 
(Behind Oscar Grant/Frank Ogawa Plaza)
 
The FBI raids and Grand Jury investigations of our comrades in Portland are just two of many steps the State is taking to repress our dissent. Oakland will not sit back and allow this to happen.  It could be any of us.

Grand Jury Resistors Head Into Court, Expect Jail

From Portland comrades: Supporters will be gathering today in front of the Federal Court House in Portland, Oregon, and Seattle, Washington to express opposition to the secret grand jury investigating the anarchist movement, and to show their support for those refusing to testify.

This will be the third time Leah-Lynne Plante has been called before the grand jury.  Each time, she has publicly refused to cooperate.  She is expected to be imprisoned after today’s hearing.

“So far as I can see, the authorities are just using these hearings to intimidate people, create suspicion, and collect information that they can use to disrupt political movements,” said Leah-Lynne Plante, of Portland.  “It isn’t working.  None of the subpoenaed activists have testified, and the support we’ve received from the broader community has been really overwhelming.”

Yesterday hundreds of people from around the country faxed letters of protest to US Attorney Jenny Durkan, demanding she call off the grand jury investigation of the anarchist movement.  The “fax petition” read, in part:  “This case clearly shows that your office is persecuting political dissent. It is despicable that the US attorney and the FBI are harassing and intimidating this group of people for their political beliefs.”

For more information from the Portland folks, email The Committee Against Political Repression at nopoliticalrepression@gmail.com

Marikana Mine Workers Massacre. A Statement of Solidarity.

1 September 2012

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A week ago local activists from labor, Occupy Oakland, and other progressive and radical groups came together at Oscar Grant Plaza in Oakland at a rally in support of the Marikana miners who were slaughtered by police in South Africa. The Occupy Oakland Labor Solidary Committee read a statement of support at that rally which has now been published:

To the workers striking against Lonmin:

We are the Labor Solidarity Committee of Occupy Oakland. We have been watching your struggle and are inspired by the strength, courage, and determination you have shown. We always support any and all workers who realize their power and stand up to fight back back against injustice. Injustices come from bosses, government, and even supposed allies.

None have fought with more fervor and righteous persistence as you. Few have ever faced the horrors that you have in return. We are both mournful and enraged by the brutality we know you have suffered. These actions must not go unanswered.

We extend to you a hand of solidarity from across the globe. We want to fight alongside you. We are workers also; your battles are our battles. We are on the same side; we share the same enemies on the other side.

We call on all people who have only their labor to survive and any of their organizations to not just speak, but to act in solidarity with you. We would like to take action against any company that buys, transports, or invests in products from Lonmin PLC. This includes refusing to install, sell, use or transport products containing material from this mine. It also includes shutdown actions against investors and companies who service Lonmin PLC.

We also support every effort to resist unjust economic and government systems, including your actions resisting murderous, violent police. This is another common battle that we share.

Lastly, we support your ability to organize in any way that way that you, as workers, decide, in order to combat the injustices you face. We will do what we can to support and defend you. This is one fight; we should be one fist.

In mourning, outrage, and solidarity,

– The Occupy Oakland Labor Solidarity Committee

Click here for an essay on this which includes video of the massacre and video of the rally

Still No Health Care. Still No Job. But 908 Days Later, One Vindicating Court Decision.

21 August 2012

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By JP Massar

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Nine hundred and four days into a lockout of kitchen workers by the Castlewood Country Club (“land of the rich, home of the selfish”), Adminstrative Law Judge Clifford Anderson handed down a decision that the workers at Castlewood had amazing faith was coming. He found that

  • Castlewood had maintained an unlawful lockout for two years.
  • Castlewood had bargained in bad faith.
  • Castlewood’s attorney was not credible
  • Castlewood maintained ‘animus’ towards its locked out workers.
  • Castlewood management violated numerous other labor laws.

And his decision orders the club to reinstate the workers and give them back pay and benefits.

It’s not that easy, though. Click here for the entire essay

Scott Olsen & the Iraq Vets Against the War Stage Sit-in For Bradley Manning At Obama Campaign Office in Oakland

17 August 2012

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By JP Massar

The rally was scheduled for 5:00 PM, August 16th at OGP.

At about 5:30 PM in the midst of it, the organizer for the Free Bradley Manning rally told the crowd that Scott Olsen and a small band of Vets, Occupiers and other activists had started a sit-in at the Obama campaign office a couple of blocks away. She said that we would be marching over there to support the sit-in and that the rally would continue from there.

In fifteen minutes the Obama office was both surrounded and invaded. Fifty or more people were inside, and perhaps a hundred outside, all chanting

Free Bradley Manning!

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Scott Olsen (under the FORWARD sign) and fellow sit-in-ers, demanding Bradley Manning be freed.

Click here for complete article with more pictures and video.

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Free Ankah!

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Originally posted at IndyBay

We are calling for the immediate release of our friend Anna Karewicz (often called Ankah), a much beloved member of the SF Bay Area activist community and beyond. She is currently being held with an ICE (immigration) hold and is fighting imminent deportation.

Free Ankah!

We are calling for the immediate release of our friend Anna Karewicz (often called Ankah), a much beloved member of the SF Bay Area activist community and beyond. She is currently being held with an ICE (immigration) hold and is fighting imminent deportation.

Anna was contacted by police Thursday August 3rd, after her bicycle tour group mistakenly turned, riding their bikes on the wrong side of a one way street in Arcata, CA for part of one block. The rest of the tour group received traffic infraction citations and were free to go.

When Anna was stopped, she verbally identified herself, showed the officer her student ID, her credit card, and had friends with her who could vouch for her identity.

The Arcata police officer, Vince O’Connor, after Anna identified herself, initially repeated, “I
need to know who you are” then immediately and inappropriately stepped into the shoes of an ICE
agent, interrogating her: “When did your visa expire? Are you illegal? When did you become illegal? When did your student visa expire?”

First, it is unclear under what state authority the police agents had to require Anna to show
identification for riding a bicycle. One does not need a drivers license to ride a bicycle. Also, California has no Hiibel statute that requires one to identify herself when detained on reasonable suspicion of criminal activity. Second, Arcata police officers do not have the authority to act as immigration agents, which appears to be the sole basis for their arrest of Anna instead of citation. This is outside of their jurisdiction. State and federal courts have made clear that local officials who engage in immigration enforcement may themselves be violating the law.

Anna Karewicz has no criminal history. She was stopped for allegedly riding a bicycle the wrong way on a one way street.

Anna lives in Oakland, CA. She is a hardworking and dedicated community member, volunteering her time as a bicycle mechanic for the Get Away Bike Collective, repairing and building bikes from parts for neighborhood children and anyone who comes in the door of the Community Center needing help.

Anna also volunteers two days a week every week, cooking food for a local soup kitchen, and spends a third day of the week picking up food donations for the free food kitchen from local farmers market vendors.

Anna is a puppeteer and artist, as well as an avid community gardener. She has strong community ties through out the country and is a brilliant example to us all. Free Ankah! Please do whatever you can.

Here’s What You Can Do:

1. Sign the petition.
http://www.change.org/petitions/humboldt-county-ca-city-of-arcata-ice-release-anna-karewicz-so-she-can-return-to-her-community

2. Blast the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, the City of Arcata (City Council and City Clerk), the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors, and the Clerk of the Board with LOTS of phone calls and emails- tell them to release Anna Karewicz immediately! Remind them that Anna’s in custody because of unlawful and improper police procedure. Furthermore, local government is NOT required to go along with ICE Hold requests. The question of whether to hold Anna for ICE is entirely up to them. Free Anna Karewicz!

Call and Email:
Mike Downey, Humboldt Co Sheriff- (707) 268- 3613/ (707) 599- 6046
mdowney [at] co.humboldt.ca.us

Humboldt County Board of Supervisors
vbass [at] co.humboldt.ca.us,
jrsmith [at] co.humboldt.ca.us, rbohn [at] co.humboldt.ca.us,
cclendenen [at] co.humboldt.ca.us, mlovelace [at] co.humboldt.ca.us, rsundberg [at] co.humboldt.ca.us,
Khayes [at] co.humboldt.ca.us

Arcata City Council
mwinkler [at] cityofarcata.org, sbrinton [at] cityofarcata.org,
sornelas [at] cityofarcata.org,
astillman [at] cityofarcata.org, mwheetley [at] cityofarcata.org

Tom Chapman, Arcata Police Chief- 707-822-2428
tchapman [at] cityofarcata.org

3. Donate to the Free Anka! Fund. Immigration defense cases cost thousands of dollars. http://www.wepay.com/donations/free-anka?utm_campaign=donations&utm_medium=link&utm_source=facebook&ref_uid=6157532

4. Fundraise: Organize a benefit, pass the hat around your community spaces, do what you can…

5.Send Anka letters:

Anna Karewicz HCCF 826

4th Street Eureka, CA 95501

*Everything will be opened and read by law enforcement. Letters must include return name and address. No stickers, photos, stamps or packages. Anka especially requests drawings and lovely art.

6. Help spread the word. Talk about Anka in your community and re-post widely within social media and email groups.

7. Condemn ICE attacks in our communities. Support families under attack and community groups who are organizing for the rights and dignity of immigrants.

Elaine Brown, Former Chair of the Black Panthers, Speaks to Occupy Oakland and All Occupiers.

16 July 2012

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Elaine Brown has been many things. Chair of the Black Panther Party from 1974 until 1977. Candidate for Oakland City Council. Candidate for the nomination of the Green Party for President of the United States. Founder of various nonprofits. Advocate for radical prison reform and prison strike organizer.

She has been a supporter and advocate for Occupy Oakland, a featured speaker at many of its events, and a participant in the December 12th Port Shutdown. In early 2012 she dressed down the Oakland City Council, its female and African American members in particular, for turning their backs on the principles that she and others fought for and which ultimate allowed them to be elected to their positions.

Yesterday, July 15th, she spoke to the Occupy Oakland General Assembly. After her talk, she said that she would not vote on proposals, because she did not consider herself a member. She was “shouted down” and by unanimous “consent” proclaimed a member of Occupy Oakland.

Power to the People

Click here for the video of her speech, a transcript of her speech, and a video of Elaine dressing down the Oakland City Council back in January, 2012.